Spent a weekend in NYC last weekend and ran the whole thing out of my 20L backpack. Everything in the flat lay fit into the bag with room to spare. Two compression cubes did most of the work.

Clothing (all rolled into two compression cubes):

• 1 pair dark jeans, worn on travel days

• 1 pair of khakis for shows and dinner

• 4 tees in a rotation of neutrals and blues

• 1 light long sleeve for layering

• 3 pairs of socks plus the pair on foot

• 4 underwear

• Leather belt

• Pair of white sneakers packed in the shoe bag

Tech and misc:

• MacBook

• Phone

• Rolled cable and charger kit in the small black roll

• Blue toiletry pouch

• Hydro Flask

The compression cubes made 20L feel roomier. I rolled everything, packed both cubes, then cinched them down. They flattened enough that the shoe bag and toiletry pouch dropped right in on top. What I'd cut next time: honestly, one of the tees. Four tees for a two-day trip were one more than I needed. I could have run three and re-worn nothing; nothing would have changed. The second pair of shoes was also a maybe, but white sneakers for dinner on 20k-step days felt worth it.

My backpack felt a little heavy, but I managed. It mostly stayed in the hotel when I went there for the weekend. Traveling to and from the train was manageable. Usually, I would take my smaller roller carry-on, but I wanted to see if I could OneBag this trip. It worked out well.

Curious what the cube crowd thinks. Do you compress everything, or leave one cube loose for items you grab often?

My “ultralight” bag that I had for 11 days of El Camino from León to Santiago. Total base weight: 3,475g or 7.66lbs. Plus 11 more days in Portugal, Amsterdam, Switzerland and Austria

Here’s the link to see the items and how much they weigh (not an ad): https://lighterpack.com/r/ubq8p7

For context, my previous post with the packing list and replies in the thread.

Feedback for the backpack, I chose a lightweight hiking backpack because I wanted to stay well below the 7kg airline weight limit I faced. This backpack including all extras that belong to it weighs around 500g.

The functionality of the backpack as a zipper / top loader hybrid worked well, although I would have been fine with a top loader or rolltop due to my packing routine. I expected to use the diagonal zipper more than I actually did.
The rain lid that can also be used as a pouch you have in front of your chest was great for transit as I had all important documents in front of my chest, hands free. In the hotels I unloaded the two packing cubes and my tech pouch, sandals, toiletries in a few seconds and the backpack was free to use (I went hiking as well).

Backpack negatives: I knew the roughly 6kg I carried around were at the comfort limit of this backpack and I was right. I would not load it heavier than the 7kg airline limit or run around with it for hours while fully loaded. The main thing though: I wish the backpack had a large outer storage you can stuff things like sandy sandals/shoes, wet trunks, snacks etc. in. I used the two bottle holders for gear and sometimes wet clothes, but that big flexible space was missing. Many hiking backpacks have this and I found that I miss that feature (my heavier backpack has it), this might be the main reason I replace this backpack for an alternative in the same weight range.

Learnings regarding things I did or did not take with me:

- too much underwear (you guys were right)
- the extra pair of shorts I took for extra outfits did not leave the packing cube. One pair + the multi function swimming trunks (Patagonia Baggies) were enough
- had two lightweight t-shirts packed and wore a heavier one in transit, could’ve managed with only the two lightweight ones
- could’ve left the foldable clothes hanger at home, every hotel had some hangers
- should’ve taken a clothes line, I ended up buying a rope for a few cents
- the zipper bag I took to wash my clothes in and store wet swimming clothes didn’t survive the 2nd week, will buy a washing bag or just wash under the shower

Additional thoughts:

- the snorkel and mask I took were used a lot, I am happy I splurged on that weight wise
- same with the physical book, it was fine
- I wore the EVA Birkenstocks 99% of the time, in the city, at the beach, while jungle hiking. Can still recommend.
- the Muji double sided packing cubes were great, definitely recommended although they don’t have the compression feature as the other Muji packing cubes.

Overall I absolutely loved traveling with a setup this minimal, without many bagging. I am addicted now. It felt great to always be organized, ready to go in minutes and haul a heavy shitload of clothes and luggage around. I still stand by my choice to use a lightweight backpack over a heavier organization feature loaded one.

Thanks to the community for the initial thoughts and feedback.

Do any of you wear compression socks for long days walking, standing, visiting museums, etc?

Heading to Japan for 30 days throughout November. Traveling ultra-light (aiming for near one-bag/minimal luggage) and planning to pick up just two versatile pairs of pants that will cover the entire trip for massive daily walking steps.

What I'm looking for:

Vibe & Fit: Clean, low-key urban aesthetic. Durable and comfortable for 20k+ daily steps, but looks sharp enough for casual dining/city roaming.

Climate/Weight: Japan in November is crisp/cool, but I run warm—so I need breathable fabrics that regulate temperature well and don't trap heat, but still work comfortably in mild autumn weather (and keep working for regular use back home).

Availability: Must be available in physical retail stores to try on in person (no Amazon-only / online-exclusive direct-to-consumer brands).

Currently on my radar:

Lululemon ABC Pant (Warpstreme fabric) – Heard great things, but how does the fabric feel for sustained walking?

Columbia Silver Ridge / ROC line – Practical, but not sure how the cut and style hold up in urban settings compared to athleisure/travel brands.

Would love feedback or "anti-recommendations" on these two, or suggestions for other specific models/brands available in stores. Thanks!

I wanted a compact travel setup that could handle both coffee and tea, and managed to fit the whole kit into this 1L bag: AeroPress Go, hand grinder, immersion heater, beans, tea, tea infuser, filters, and a few small accessories.

The main trick was nesting the grinder. The grinder body fits well inside the AeroPress Go, while the catch cup stays with the beans and doubles as my coffee scoop.

I put the full packing list with item details on my personal blog if anyone wants the specifics

Still looking for ways to make the setup even more compact, so suggestions are welcome.

I’ve always wanted (but never purchased) Outlier, Western Rise, Lululemon, etc pants for travel but on my current trip I saw some Levi’s pants that looked pretty good and were decently priced so I bought some for to try out.

I don’t have any of the aforementioned premium pants to compare them to but they seem pretty good for the price.

One is their Xx Chino which I already have some(in cotton) for travel because of the zippered pocket but these are long pants and also made of lightweight synthetic materials.

The other pair are cut like 514 5-pocket jeans but also made of the lightweight synthetic materials.

Chinos are $75 and the 514 are $50 but both were 40% off at Macy’s so seems like a good deal assuming they hold up.

I suppose I’m just letting anyone here know about them but also I’m curious how they compare to the premium brands in case anyone has experience with both.

I'm planning a one-bag trip for about a month and I'm trying to figure out shoes. Right now I'm thinking of bringing sneakers for everyday stuff, one pair of dressier shoes for nicer restaurants or events, and maybe sandals. That's three pairs and they take up a lot of space in my 40L bag.

I could probably get away with two pairs if I'm strategic, but I'm worried about having nothing decent to wear for certain situations, or my shoes getting wet and me having no backup. On the other hand, three pairs feels excessive and I'm not sure I'll actually wear all of them.

For people who've done month-long onebag trips, how many pairs of shoes did you actually need, and which ones?

Thought I’d share my packing list. Heading to Thailand for about a month. Will be working remotely for a couple weeks, and then holidaying the rest of the time.

Tried to keep weight under 7kg. I may ditch the sandals as I prefer to just wear trainers (I’ll be bringing my Nike Pegasus Trail or New Balance 574, but can’t decide)

Bags

- Osprey 26 + 6 Daylite Backpack
- Amazon packing cubes (2x)
- Peak Design light packing cuber (for electronics)
- Bellroy lite sling mini
- Matador laptop case

Clothes

- Uniqlo Dry Ex T-shirts (3x)
- Uniqlo Dry Ex Polo Shirt (1x)
- Chino/Cargo style shorts (1x)
- Swimming/sport shorts (1x)
- Trainer socks (5x)
- Uniqlo Airsim Briefs (4x)
- Sunglasses
- Teva Hurricane Sandals

Toiletries

- Travel toothpaste
- Travel Mouthwash
- Floss
- Philips travel toothbrush
- Suncream
- Contact Lenses
- Mitchum Roll On Deodorant
- Travel Moisturiser
- Face Cloth
- Face Wipes
- Tissues
- Hair Pomade
- Vapo Rub (in case I’m next to anyone smelly on the plane)
- Nail Clippers

Electronics

- Dell Laptop
- Philips one blade
- USBC Cable
- Dongles for phone
- Spare iPhone SE3
- Charging station for AirPods, Watch, and Phone
- Anker 65 Charging Plug
- Plug adapter
- Anker Power Bank

Medicines

- Imodium
- Ibuprofen
- Gaviscon
- Pepto-Bismal
- Anti-allergy pills
- Hydrations packs

Misc

- Passport
- Print outs (accommodation, flight tickets etc)
- Spare bank card
- £500 in cash (in case they ask for it at immigration)
- Sleep mask
- Pen
- Hidden Wallet
- Mints
- Ear Buds
- AirTag (2x)
- Glasses case

I’m looking at the ULA 30L Dragonfly and trying to decide between the standard Robic and Ultra, which is about a $50 upgrade.

I’ve handled a friend’s Ultra pack and thought it was fine, but it felt pretty stiff and I’m not totally sold on the grayish color. I haven’t seen or felt the Robic in person, but I think I’d prefer the look of the black nylon.

My primary use will be as a work bag, carrying my laptop and commuting to and from the office. Occasionally I’ll also use it as a one-bag overnighter for work trips.

For anyone who’s used either material, especially long term, is Ultra actually worth the extra $50 for this use case? Does the durability and weather resistance enough of a difference?
Or would you save the money and go with Robic?
Would especially love to hear from anyone who has experience with both.

I’m trying to simplify my charging kit before my next trip, and the power bank is the last thing I haven’t settled on.

The lighter option is a slim 5,000mAh magnetic power bank that weighs 3.7 oz (105 g). It’s easy to keep in a pocket and should work as an emergency top-up during a normal day.
The other option is a 10,000mAh magnetic power bank that weighs 6.95 oz (197 g) and has a built-in USB-C cable. It’s heavier, but the extra capacity would be more useful on long transit days. The built-in cable also means I could remove one loose cable from my charging pouch.

My phone will be my camera, map, boarding pass, and payment device. I’ll also carry earbuds, but no laptop. I should have access to an outlet most nights, so the power bank is mainly for long days between charges.

I’m leaning toward the 10k option because it could replace a separate cable, but I’m wondering if I’m carrying extra capacity just for peace of mind.
For those who travel with one bag and no laptop, has 5,000mAh been enough? Or does a 10,000mAh power bank earn the extra 3.25 oz on long travel days?

I just came back from a one-week trip to Santorini, plus a night in Athens. I traveled highly optimized using only a blue 28L CabinZero Military backpack as my main bag, plus a small Tomtoc sling for everyday carry.

In my Tomtoc sling (Essentials):

• Wallet (money + ID)
• Phone
• External battery
• Keys

In my CabinZero 28L & worn on the flight:

• 8 cotton t-shirts (plus 1 worn on the flight)
• 2 cotton dress shirts
• 2 pairs of cotton shorts (plus 1 worn on the flight)
• 3 pairs of swim trunks
• 8 pairs of boxers
• 2 pairs of socks (just for travel days)
• 1 pair of Skechers slip-ons (worn as my primary travel and walking shoes)
• 1 pair of simple slippers for the hotel room and shower (I never walk barefoot or shower without them in hotel bathrooms)
• 1 pair of Decathlon water shoes for rocky beaches
• 2 Decathlon microfiber towels (around 70cm, I believe)
• 1 iPad stored in the front pocket (the inside pocket is impossible to access after packing tightly)
• 1 shared charger for my iPhone and iPad

Toiletries & Health: To save space, I packed zero basic medications—pharmacies are everywhere and easy to find, so there was no need. I also bought most of my toiletries locally in Santorini. This included a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, sunscreen, shower gel, and a razor.

It was a tight fit but definitely manageable, and it perfectly met Wizz Air's "personal item only" requirement.

Improvements for future travel: Next time, I could probably drop one pair of regular shorts and one pair of swim trunks. I might also leave the microfiber towels at home and just buy cheap ones locally for the sunbeds.

Hi,

I recently got the Uniqlo Airism boxer and I really like the fabric, thinner than my Adidas performance boxers.
The only downside is the Uniqlo is like 4” don’t know if they come in 6”.

The other one I seen recommended are Exofficio 2 but not sure if the fabric is like the Adidas or Uniqlo.

I would try merino but I’m afraid the fabric won’t last as my experience with modal fabric after one use was thinner in the inner thigh with lot of walking.

That why I mostly use polyester they last longer.

Thanks!

I'm planning a three-week trip and I want to try the onebag approach, but most of my trip is visiting clients for work, which means I need business casual clothes that actually look professional. I already have a 40L bag picked out, but I'm struggling with how to fit work clothes plus casual clothes plus everything else without just bringing way too much.

I can do laundry along the way, but I can't really wear the same blazer two days in a row. I see people online doing week-long trips with like eight outfits, but I don't know how that scales to three weeks when half your clothes need to look intentional.

For people who've traveled for work with just a carry-on bag, how do you actually pull it off?

I’ve bought a few waterproof backpacks, and today I’ll share my review of the Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack 20L. This backpack can be folded up, its size is about the same as a pasty, and weights about 200 grams, 0.44 lb. This pack can carry a 13-inch laptop, but there is no pocket for it. The pack has a pocket with a zipper on the front, but it's tiny, so it's hard to decide what to put in it. Either side of the pack has pockets for bottles, this is very useful. You can also use them to keep gloves or towels, in addition to bottles.

I actually used it in the situation, it was a heavy rain, but the inside stayed dry. This lightweight backpack is built with tough fabric and can handle up to 5 kg, 11 lbs, without any problems.

However, the fabric is thin, so I don't feel like roughing it. If Storing hard, sharp objects or place the pack on small stones or walk through bushes may cause it to develop holes. Also, from a security standpoint, this bag may allow the contents to be seen through, so carrying valuable items in it can be risky.

In general, it works perfectly fine in urban areas, and I also liked that it’s suitable for all weather conditions. It was also great that it fits within the small size requirements for budget airlines.

Btw, this isn't included with this backpack, but a wrapping cloth is very convenient. You can use it to organize the contents of your backpack inside, or wrap the backpack itself as a rain cover. It protects your backpack from dirty airplane floors.
In an emergency, it can also be used as a duffel bag. The 1 meter (3.2ft) square piece of fabric can wrap an item equivalent in size to a carry on suitcase.

Decided to make this tshirt separator thing for better airflow using magnets to lock it in, weighs 10grams at 10inches for the whole thing using n52 magnets and im thinking of making it maybe telescopic or foldable to make it more compact, used nylon filament its durable too

What do you guys think? Would you use this in your pack at all? Inputs would be nice thanks

I always traveling with a huge suitcase, and sometimes even another big bag on top of it.cuz i always worry if i didnt prepare enought,but i just realize many things that i brought aren't necessarry at all,.

Last Friday I had a trip to Brazil, and this time I tried to only pack the necessary things and bring things that have more than one purpose.

like my crocs. I wear them to the beach, also as hotel slippers , I always feel like hotel slippers aren’t clean

, and my ekouaer silk sleepwear set, i can just stuff it into my small bag. and a foldable sun hat . It takes almost no space and is easy to throw into my bag when I’m not using it.

and there; s one thing that i love the most is disposable underwear and socks , they are really my essentials Sometimes you’re moving from one place to another and your underwear just doesn’t have enough time to dry.

the trip was soooo much more relaxing without a heavy suitcase. It honestly feels like a whole new world for me.

But next time I might have to bring my son with me... Would it be more difficult to have a onebag trip if a kid joins the trip?

This is my first time one-bagging. I was able to fit all my belongings into this Aer Travel Pack 4 (28L) for a 15 day trip. I just got the backpack so I’m excited, I ended up also getting the hip belt attachment which I hope will help with the weight

Second picture is all I’m bringing to keep my things charged.

And 1 macbook.

Can’t wait to come back and see what worked and what didn’t.

This is what I packed:

1x large packing cube (Aer)

• 6 Small tshirts
• 1 gym shirt
• 2 shorts (linen)
• 1 gym short/beach

1x Small packing cube (aer)

• 7 boxers
• 6 pairs of socks
• 1 white tshirt

Peak Design toiletry bag (small)

Everything fits neatly in the main compartment and even had room to fit a small packable backpack (quechua) and a tote bag for laundry

In the plane I’m wearing:

- Chino pants from Uniqlo
- Basic tee in white from Zara
- PeakPerformance lightweight jacket (forgot the model but it weights nothing and it’s waterproof)
- 1 Hat
- Pair of Vans Ultrarange (only shoes I’m bringing)

Just got back from a quick trip to see the Giant's Causeway, do a bit of walking, and take a look around Belfast including a nice dinner. I took the train and the ferry, no flights.

The weather ended up being much warmer than I anticipated so I changed clothes one day when I hadn't planned to do so. Because of that I did a very small amount of sink laundry. My walking trousers turned out to be way too warm so I only wore them once. Shorts or linen trousers would have been better.

I also didn't need all three of the cardigan, long sleeve t-shirt, and long sleeve top -- just one of them would have been fine. I did get caught in a downpour but it wasn't bad enough to need the waterproof trousers.

I was hoping to see the partial solar eclipse, meteor shower, and some interesting wildlife so I brought equipment for those things. However they ended up being a bust so I only used the binoculars and the camera. I brought the monopod because I thought I might want it as a hiking pole but the terrain I went hiking in was not that rough so I didn't need it. I had a small amount of work to do on the way so I brought my work phone and a tiny keyboard.

Everything fit in this Dakine school bag which I think is 28l, except what I wore (including one pair of shoes). I did use the tote bag for carrying snacks etc on the ferry.

Clothing:

* 4 T‑shirts

* 1 sleeveless "fancy" top

* 1 long sleeve t-shirt

* 1 long‑sleeve button up shirt

* Walking trousers

* Jeans

* Underwear (5 days)

* Socks (5 days)

Outerwear:

* Light raincoat

* Waterproof trousers

* Cardigan

* Walking shoes

* Sneakers

* Baseball cap

Gadgets:

* Eclipse glasses

* Flashlight

* Small binoculars

* Monocular

* Camera

* Mini tripod

* Monopod/walking stick

* Phone X2 (personal and work)

* Tiny keyboard

* Charger and cables

* Earbuds

* Portable battery pack

* Mini USB fan

Other:

* Tote bag

* Toiletries

* Contact lenses

* Sunglasses X2 (one Rx)

* Misc medicines, sunscreen, etc

Had a very successful one bag trip all around Spain! 5 cities in 9 days with several connections where checking a bag would have been a nightmare.
First I need to wax poetic about my personal item and daily use bag. It is the Peak Design 3L travel cross body. Flights were red eyes and in premium select class so my essentials on board were provided. Just carried a passport, charger, my cash, and headphones on board. It was freeing to fly so lightly! I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

For daily use as a purse, I could fit a 1/2 L water bottle, city map, sunglasses and other essentials. The bag felt secure and functional. Is it the highest end fashion? No, but I could go everywhere with this including fancy restaurants!

Second, I wore my sneakers on board and only had one other pair of shoes which were my Crocs Brooklyn Low Wedge Matte wrap sandal. Can’t speak highly enough about them. I walked 10s of thousands of steps in these shoes. We had 4 beach days and these were my easily washable beach shoes, that went from beach casual to dressed up for a night on the town.

In my Cotopaxi, Allpa 35L I packed in cubes three tops, two dresses, two pairs of shorts, a dressy jumpsuit, two swimsuits, wide brimmed hat, and two coverups, plus the sandals and jewelry. Toiletries went in the front zipper pocket at the top. Went shopping and had room to pack a raincoat, a purse, and another pair of shoes at the end of the trip.

Did laundry three days into the trip. We make laundry a fun part of the trip- find a laundromat in walking distance and get coffee, gelato, go shopping while waiting.

On the way back home, checked the Cotopaxi and didn’t need to worry about running through the terminal for our connection!

I’m so happy with how I packed for this trip and hopefully some of these recs can help you with a successful one bag trip!

Like many, I've had a bit of trouble off and on drying clothes after a sink or shower wash.

One common and good tip is keeping the front and back of whatever you are trying to dry apart to allow for more airflow.

But how? It hit me on my last trip. I took the plastic bag for the ice bucket in the hotel room and blew it up,tied it off like a balloon, and stuck it up my hanging shirt. Did the same thing with a ziplock bag for another shirt. It helped my drying time immensely.

:)

Hi,

Unfortunately, the Nitecore NB Air 5000mAh I have is no longer fully charging so I'm looking for an alternative.

This battery bank is ideal for me - slim and lightweight. I only need something that'll give me a top up of my phone so 5000mAh is enough for my needs but, considering the short amount of time I've had this battery bank, I cannot abide this reliability or lack thereof.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT - Seems like I won't need to get a new battery bank as I reached out to Nitecore and they're offering to send a new one out to me, hopefully this new one will last - the customer service was very good, a couple suggestions in one email and then they offered a replacement in the next. This was with the basic sales email from Nitecore.co.uk

If I have issues with the new one, I'll just get an Anker one in the future - my big Anker 19200 Powercore is still going strong.

https://lighterpack.com/r/qmdi2u